Jared's Counterfeit Fiancee - Brenda Jackson [27]
“Jared?”
Her soft whisper interrupted his thoughts. “Yes?” he responded, his voice husky, thick with sexual need.
“I think you should leave now.”
He took a deep breath, losing his calm as he’d lost his control. He knew that asking him to leave was her way of letting him know that she wasn’t ready for the bedroom yet, and if they continued at this pace he would definitely take her there. He heard her words but still a part of him—that part that wanted her, needed her—felt inclined to push.
“You want me, Dana. I can see it in your eyes. I can hear it in your breathing. I can taste it in your kiss. Why deny what you want?”
She placed her fingers to his lips. “Yes, I want you, but I can’t become involved in a meaningless affair, Jared. As soon as your mother is given a clean bill of health you’ll be ready to break this fake engagement and walk away. Do you deny that?”
She stared at him, waiting for an answer, and he gave her the only one that he could give. “No, I don’t deny it.”
“Then Counselor, not giving in to my desires is the right thing,” she said, taking a step back away from him.
He frowned. “I can’t give you more, Dana,” he said, annoyed with the circumstances surrounding them.
“And I haven’t asked you to give me more, Jared. But then you shouldn’t expect me to give you more than I can, either.”
Exasperated, he rubbed a hand down his face. “Why make things complicated?” he asked, clearly frustrated.
“That’s the last thing I want. In fact I’m trying not to complicate things. If I thought for one minute that I could handle an affair with you then we would be in my bedroom right now, getting it on. But I can’t,” she said feeling just as frustrated as she knew he was.
Jared sighed and reached out and pulled her tensed body into his arms. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push, especially when I said that I wouldn’t. But I want you in a way that I shouldn’t. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a woman as much as I want you.”
Jared was consumed by a need to do nothing but hold her. He didn’t know how long he could hang on with their pretense but knew he had to see it through. Somehow he needed to build an immunity against the wants and desires that overtook him whenever he was within ten feet of her.
Moments later, he pulled back and looked at her. “I’ll be out of town this week and won’t be returning until late Friday night. When are you leaving town?”
“Early Saturday morning. It’s about a seven-hour drive because I like to take the scenic route and spend the night on one of the Sea Islands.”
He draped an arm casually around her shoulders. “Which one?”
“Jekyll Island. It’s beautiful and close to Brunswick. My parents used to take me camping there each year.”
“When will you be back?”
“Probably late Sunday evening.”
Jared nodded. If she was leaving early Saturday morning that meant he wouldn’t see her again until she returned. He leaned down and gently kissed her once more. And now since they were alone, he nudged her body closer, liking the feel of his palms on her backside. He felt the tips of her breasts harden against his chest and reacted by pressing his erection low against her belly. The sensations spreading through him were relentless and fierce, and he plunged his tongue even deeper into her mouth, tasting her, devouring her, driving them both crazy with desire. “Miss me while I’m gone,” he whispered, when he finally released her mouth. He knew he had to leave. If he stayed one minute longer, he wouldn’t be able to control his actions. “Goodnight, Dana.”
He then opened the door, stepped out and closed it quietly behind him.
Dana sighed deeply and leaned back against the door, missing Jared already. She had to be realistic about her pretended engagement or else she would fall head over heels in love with him. And that was something she could not and would not let happen.
Two hours later Jared was in his bed wide awake, flat on his back and staring up at the ceiling. Maybe he was moving too